Hundreds of South Australia's Holden workers have accepted a tough new wage deal, including a pay freeze, in a desperate bid to save their jobs

HOLDEN workers have voted "yes" to new wages and conditions but the future of the company won't be guaranteed until after the federal election.

The 1700 employees at the Elizabeth assembly line this afternoon voted in favour of the new workplace agreement which will see:

WAGES capped for three years.REQUIRE a faster turnaround time on overtime shifts.

NEW restrictions on annual leave, among other changes.

An emotional John Camillo, the SA secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, told reporters outside the Holden factory: "The workers have voted clear majority vote to support the next generation of vehicles here in Australia. It's been a tough choice (but) they made the right decision. We now call on the Coalition and the Government to support the car industry."

Mr Camillo said he would not reveal the details of the split in favour of the conditions but emphasised: "A very clear majority. It was a strong vote, a positive yes. They really wanted to vote no but at the end of the day they know they're voting for their future … to keep this company going for 10 years."

A glassy-eyed Mr Camillo, who had to pause at times to gather his comments, said: "It's been a very tough time for our members and their families (but) these workers have voted and now it's time for politicians to come forward and show their support for the industry".

Mr Camillo conceded workers didn't have "much of a bargaining chip" because car factory wages were being reviewed globally.

He said he feared the plant's closure was possible even if the deal was approved.

Another said "there really is no decision".

Worker Dennis Crespin (left) - a Holden employee of 19 years - leaves at shift change after casting his ballot in the vote over Holden working conditions. Picture: Greg Higgs

"If the vote is 'no', we don't have a job in 2016. It's simple as that," the worker said.

The vote won't be complete until the deadline passes for their colleagues in engineering and at the engine factory in Victoria to vote on the new deal over the next three days - even though it does not directly apply to them.

The Victorian workers are allowed to vote on the changes affecting South Australian colleagues because it falls under a national Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. But the vote is not compulsory and unions have advised that the 1000 workers in Victoria are unlikely to vote on the deal.

"The stewards want to respect the rights of South Australian workers to determine their future," said Dave Smith, national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union vehicles division.

"We are going to recommend to our members that they abstain from voting. They are mindful of the difficult circumstances the SA workers are in. But the variation (to the workplace agreement) only applies to them so it's only fitting that they decide their future. If it's a close call we don't want to influence it either way."

The deadline for the vote in Victoria is late on Friday afternoon.

Holden's overnight shift staff voted this morning on the future of their employment and Holden in Australia. Picture: Greg Higgs

There are believed to be untapped funds in the ATS because the output of local car makers is lower today than when the terms were set in 2009. The ATS pays car makers based on a number of factors including vehicle output and investment and are estimated to subsidise about $2300 per car.

The workers had been urged to vote for the changes by chairman and managing director Mike Devereux, in person at the briefings, as well as in a letter understood to have been sent out to all 1700 Elizabeth employees last week.

In the letter, Mr Devereux urged the staff to vote for the changes at "a critical time in the history of your company and your community."

Describing the vote as "one of the most important decisions you will make in your career," Mr Devereux expressed pride in the company's Adelaide origins, its manufacturing heritage and a desire for it to continue.

"HVO officially opened in 1962 and since then you and the giants of Australian automotive manufacturing who preceded you have built 6.3m vehicles for the Australian market and for export," the letter reportedly says.

The Holden boss described the company as part of the "economic and social fabric of Adelaide and the entire state" and said he wanted that to continue.

"I want that tradition - Australian families buying Australian cars made by Australian workers - to continue for decades to come and I can see no reason why that cannot happen," he said.

"We have a skilled workforce, we make great cars that people want to buy, we are an integral part of the community at Elizabeth that is proud to have us here and wants to keep us here.

"The variations you will vote on next week came about after tough discussions between management and your union - this proposal enables is to have globally competitive work practices while preserving key benefits from the existing agreement."

Mr Devereux also said in the letter he would remain at the plant for the vote - rather than attending the launch of the new Trax compact SUV in Melbourne - and asked the workforce to vote for the future of the industry.

"I believe Holden's future is bright, I hope you will join your colleagues in voicing a vote of confidence in the Australian automotive industry".

Unions again called for the company to consider making an SUV at its Elizabeth facility.

"We've been pushing for them to make the Captiva SUV here, they sell 18,000 here at the moment but that's a decision for Holden. They have said it is too costly to build it here," Mr Camillo said.

Holden has stated that without government co-investment and production cost reductions, it would follow Ford in halting local production from 2016.

The workers were also addressed by Mr John Camillo and Federation of Vehicle Industry Unions national chairman Dave Smith prior to casting their votes in a secret ballot.

Dennis Crespan, a Holden worker for nearly 20 years, said it was a quiet and sombre atmosphere in the first floor meeting room this morning.

"We're not too happy about the situation but there's nothing much more we can do about it now, people do have an appreciation of exactly what they're voting for, but I think it's still 50/50," he said.

Critical to a positive outcome is the first point in the new agreement that protects Holden factory workers if the car giant backs out of its plans to invest $1 billion in two new models over the next 10 years.

If Holden does not go ahead with those plans by this December then workers will automatically stay on their current wages and conditions - but the factory will likely close at the end of 2016, about the same time as Ford.

Mr Camillo said the recent process has been emotionally draining on workers.

"There are a lot of people very concerned about paying their mortgage, their bills and what the future is for Holden," said Mr Camillo.

"People have been going to work every day under stress because they don't know what the outcome is going to be. The uncertainty is causing them a lot of issues."

Last week the president of the Australian Council Trade Unions Ged Kearney took the unusual step of voicing her support for the new deal.

"This has been a hard decision, what has been negotiated at Holden, and I'm really incredibly proud of the union to have come to this point," Ms Kearney told the National Press Club in Canberra.

"We've done it before. Back in the '80s we sacrificed a three per cent pay rise to implement superannuation. I hope (the workers) look to the long-term viability of that industry and that company."

Your Holden questions answered

Why did Holden workers vote yes to wage freezes and other new restrictions?

Because they know that without these changes they will be out of a job at the end of 2016.

Does the vote secure the future of Holden now to 2022?

No. The vote is the first step in a new round of negotiations between Holden and the Federal Government. Now that the workers have made their sacrifice Holden will apply to Federal and State Governments for further funding.

Didn't Holden get a large slice of taxpayer money only a year or so ago?

Yes. In March 2012 Holden was pledged $275 million from State and Federal Governments in return for a $1 billion investment by General Motors in two new models to be built to 2022. But Holden says market condition have changed since that deal was signed and other GM factories in neighbouring countries can build the cars for less than Holden.

Why did Holden not announce the exact split of the yes-no vote?

Holden is legally not allowed to announce the results until after workers in Victoria vote on the deal - even though the terms do not apply to them. It's the rules under a national Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Why did the unions not announce the exact split of the yes-no vote?

Because they did not want to influence the voting of Victorian Holden workers. However, unions have advised members in Victoria to abstain from voting so they do not affect the outcome.

When will a final voting decision be known?

The deadline for votes expires late on Friday but voting is not compulsory. We may hear the results Friday night or early next week.

Where to from here?

The wait is far from over for Holden workers. They, along with Holden and General Motors executives from Detroit, need to wait until after the Federal election before they approach the government of the day.

What will likely happen if the Rudd Government is re-elected?

Federal Industry Minister Kim Carr and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd say they are committed to supporting Australian car manufacturing. A new deal would be highly likely.

What will likely happen if the Coalition is elected?

This is a great unknown. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he will support car manufacturers providing they export. But Holden cannot make exports viable because of the strong Australian dollar. Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey says he supports the industry, but still plans to cut $500 million from industry assistance which would likely push Holden over the edge.

History - Holden's real horsepower

ORIGINALLY a saddlery, Holden has become a much different place over the last 150 years.

Before the roar of the V8s became synonymous with the Adelaide car maker, J.A. Holden &Co in Adelaide specialised in a different sort of horsepower, saddlery.

Just over 50 years later, it expanded into sidecars for motorcycles and minor repairs to car upholstery.

But it was the company's next move that defined them.

Holden's Motor Body Builders Ltd, was created, specialising in car bodies and based out of a premises on King William St, Adelaide.

Just five years later it became the exclusive supplier of car bodies for General Motors in Australia and started manufacturing at a plant at Woodville.

In 1948 the first Australian-built car, called the Holden, rolled off the line.

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